VFL Cats announce leaders

Dominic Gleeson has added to his long list of achievements by being named Geelong VFL captain for 2014.

The position of skipper is not an unusual one for Gleeson who was captain of the Werribee Tigers between 2009 and 2011, the Geelong Falcons in 2001 and the Victorian state representative side in 2013.

Together with Mark Corrigan, Gleeson also served as vice captain to Geelong VFL premiership captain Troy Selwood over the past two seasons.

After making his VFL debut with Carlton in 2002, Gleeson has since gone to play 180 VFL matches and kick 102 goals.

The 2012 VFL premiership player was awarded VFL Life Membership in 2013 and after playing his second consecutive VFL Grand Final, finished 3rd in the VFL best and fairest award behind winner Mark Corrigan and Mitch Brown.

Gleeson will be well supported by Jack Hollmer, who has been named vice captain. Although Hollmer has been made ‘stand in’ VFL captain on a couple of occasions during his career, it is the first time he has been awarded a formal leadership position.

After playing his first match with the VFL Cats in 2007, Hollmer will this year become the longest serving Geelong VFL listed player since the revamped VFL competition was formed in 2000. In that time Hollmer has played 79 games – the 2nd most for a Geelong VFL listed player - behind 2007 premiership captain and Liston Trophy winner James Byrne (96) – and booted 39 goals.

Over the journey Hollmer has been transformed from a tagging midfielder into a dour defender and now plays the role of ‘enigmatic’ forward.

Despite being made first or second emergency for 3 VFL Grand Finals (2007, 2012, 2013), the versatile Hollmer has remained a loyal and ever reliable competitor for the VFL Cats.

With a number of experienced players moving on from Simonds Stadium in the off-season and Ben Raidme suffering a season ending injury in the first practice match, the leadership and experience of the two VFL stalwarts will be crucial for the young Cats during the 2014 season.

Over the next month both players will play a key role in establishing a VFL leadership group that will be used to identify emerging leaders within the VFL program.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs